Career Pulse

Sutton Honored as Oncology Social Worker of the Year

GREENFIELD — Vicki Sutton, MSW, LCSW, Oncology social worker at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, has been named Oncology Social Worker of the Year by the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) at its national conference in Portland, Ore. The award recognizes a member of AOSW who, in the day-to-day delivery of compassionate service, is a model for the profession.

A graduate of Greenfield Community College with a degree in nursing, Sutton spent much of her nursing career working in school and college health. She attained a bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the UMass University without Walls program, and master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College.

Sutton has organized an annual “Sacred Gathering for Those Whose Lives Have Been Touched by Cancer”; “Spirit of the Written Word,” a creative writing workshop for cancer patients; “An Evening for Women,” a program for breast cancer survivors; ongoing Reiki and massage for patients at Franklin; and several support groups within Franklin.

She has also been involved with the American Cancer Society’s “We Can Weekend,” “Look Good … Feel Better,”  “Reach to Recovery,” and “Road to Recovery” programs. For her activities relating to the American Cancer Society, Sutton also received an award as the 2007 American Cancer Society Western Mass. Cancer Control Volunteer of the Year.

Scientist Alan Schneyer Joins Staff of Life Sciences Institute

SPRINGFIELD — Alan Schneyer, Ph.D. has joined the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) as a distinguished scientist.

Schneyer’s research concerns the reproductive and metabolic roles of follistatin and follistatin like-3 proteins. He has recently discovered that these proteins influence production of insulin and glucose metabolism, both of which are important considerations for diabetic patients. He has just received a new research grant from the National Institutes of Health to support this work.

Schneyer also co-chairs the research affairs committee of the Endocrine Society and is a member of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Immediately prior to coming to the institute, Schneyer was an associate professor at the Harvard Medical School and a senior researcher in the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Schneyer to the institute,” said PVLSI Science Director Lawrence Schwartz. “Alan’s research focus will enhance the institute’s emerging diabetes and metabolism research cluster. He is an outstanding researcher, highly regarded for his policy work with scientific societies, and a thoughtful mentor to younger scientists.”

PVLSI was created in 2002 as a joint venture of Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst with the dual missions of biomedical research and economic development.

CDH’s Rodgers Honored by American Cancer Society

NORTHAMPTON — Cindy Rodgers, an assistant in the Cancer Care Program at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, was recognized by the American Cancer Society (ACS) at a gathering in April for her contributions to the organization’s New England division.

Rodgers earned the 2007 Income Development Volunteer of the Year award, and was one of over a dozen people recognized at an ACS event on April 25 at the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Holyoke.

Each year through her work at Cooley Dickinson — and on her own time as well — Rodgers raises money for the ACS through the Daffodil Days fundraiser and through the Relay for Life event held each June. This year, through Daffodil Days, Rodgers said she helped to raise $23,000 for the ACS regional group.

In her role, Rodgers also coordinates the Look Good, Feel Better program, a collaborative program with the ACS, for women who are being treated for a cancer-related diagnosis.

“Cindy has taken this task on with care and compassion,” says Mary Ellen Walsh, director of the Cancer Care Program. “The program is held every other month and brings together women who share a common experience while learning helpful techniques for wigs and wig care, head turbans, skin care, and general well-being.”

CDH Nurse Wroblewski Contributes to Textbook

NORTHAMPTON — Registered nurse Barbara Wroblewski, manager of clinical applications at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, recently contributed a revised chapter on documentation in the third edition of Fundamentals of Nursing.

“This textbook is used by schools of nursing across the United States,” said Wroblewski. The previous edition was published three years ago, and she was asked to revise that content based on current nursing literature.

“The editors also wanted me to update the sections on electronic medical records and computerized documentation systems in health care,” Wroblewski said.

She expanded the section on Nursing Informatics — a field that is defined by the American Nurses Association as a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice — to introduce student nurses to this growing specialty within the profession.

She also replaced the previous flowsheet example in the chapter with the new Cooley Dickinson Medical Surgical flowsheet adopted in July 2006. All four pages of this flowsheet, a form that is used to document patient care information and data, are prominently displayed in the textbook.

Also replaced was the picture of an old PDA with one from Panasonic showing use of a tablet computer at the bedside, like one of the two that were tested at CDH.

Finkel Honored for Work with Jewish Geriatric Services

LONGMEADOW — Jewish Geriatric Services recognized a longstanding volunteer and donor, Barbara Finkel, who received the annual Chairman’s Service Award at the corporation’s 2007 annual meeting.

Finkel, a resident of Springfield, received the award for her significant volunteer contributions to JGS over the past 20 years. A former board member, donor, and development leader, she also established the Bruce Finkel Music Fund at JNH in memory of her husband. The fund provides for a variety of music programs that provide comfort to JGS residents.

“Barbara Finkel is a true role model for anyone seeking to make a difference in the lives of others,” said board chairman Richard Chase. “Her tireless devotion and extraordinary compassion have comforted countless JGS residents and have inspired our staff and other volunteers.”

JGS also announced the election of three new members to its board executive committee: Carol J. Kantany Casartello, Martha Finkel, and Michael Ginsburg.

“JGS has made great strides in the past year in virtually all areas of its operations,” Chase said. “We continue to be in a strong financial position, enabling us to invest in improving and extending the services we offer to our community’s elder population.”

Baystate Reference Laboratory Announces Two Appointments

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Reference Laboratory has promoted Charity Robbins, CPC, CMPAM, to the newly created position of manager of BRL Revenue Cycle. In this role, Robbins will be responsible for registration, charging, and revenue operations, in addition to her present duties overseeing billing and coding for BRL.

In addition, Cheryl Ingalls will now focus on Laboratory Compliance and Charge Description Master issues, and work directly with Robbins and the BRL Revenue Management Team.

Due to the recent growth and anticipated future growth of Baystate Reference Laboratory, these positions are necessary to coordinate all daily revenue operations, better enabling the laboratory to address its complex needs, said Michael Favreau, interim director.